Maths Glossary
Add (Addition) means calculating the total of two or more numbers or amounts.
Addends are the numbers that are added together.
Acute angles are less than 90°.
Adjacent means next to, so two adjacent angles share a common ray and vertex.
Algebra uses symbols or letters (like x or y) in place of unknown values in equations.
Algorithm is a set of rules or steps you follow to make a calculation or solve a problem.
AM stands for Ante Meridiem and relates to the half of the day from midnight to midday.
Analogue clocks have hands which sweep through hours marked from 1 to 12.
Angle is the amount of turn.
- an angle is acute if it is less than 90°.
- an angle that is 90° is a right angle.
- an obtuse angle is between 90° and 180°.
- an angle that is 180° is a straight angle.
- an angle is reflex if it is between 180° and 360°.
- an angle of 360° is a revolution.
Apex is the top or highest part of something and furthest from the base.
Arc is part of the circumference or edge of a circle.
Area is the size of a surface or amount of space inside a 2-dimensional shape.
Arm of an angle is any of the lines that form the angle.
Ascending order means arranged from smallest to largest.
Asymmetrical means having no symmetry.
Average is a number which represents a group of numbers and is found by adding the numbers and dividing by how many there are.
Base 10 system is another name for the place value or decimal number system.
BIDMAS stands for Brackets, Indices, Division and Multiplication, Addition and Subtraction. Working from left to right, it tells you the order in which operations must be carried out.
Breadth means width.
Capacity describes how much a container will hold. It is often used regarding the volume of liquids or gases which might be described in litres or millilitres.
The Cartesian Coordinate system is a way to represent points on a number plane using the x-axis (horizontal) and the y-axis (vertical). The plane is divided into four quadrants by these axes, and each point on it can be represented by a pair of numbers (x,y) called the coordinates of the point.
Circle is a 2-dimensional shape made by drawing a curve that is always the same
distance from a centre.
Column graph is a graph drawn using rectangular bars to show how large each value is. The bars can be horizontal or vertical. Column graphs are sometimes called bar graphs or bar charts.
Complementary angle Two angles that add to 90° are called complementary. For example, 24° and 66° are complementary angles.
Composite number is a positive number that has a factor other than 1 and itself is a composite number. The number one is not prime nor composite.
Cone is a 3D object with a circular base and one apex. The term vertex is sometimes used for the highest point above the base of the cone.
Coordinates are a set of values that show a position on maps and grids. The first number shows the distance along and the second number shows the distance up or down (x,y) and (A, 3) for example.
Centimetre is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one hundredth of a metre.
Century is one hundred years.
Circumference is the distance around the edge of a circle.
Common (same) denominators are required to add or subtract fractions.
Compass bearings tell us direction, eg north, south.
Congruent means the same. Two plane figures are called congruent if one can be moved
by a translations, rotations and reflections so that it fits exactly on top of the other figure.
Consecutive numbers follow each other in order, without gaps, from smallest to largest. For example, 10, 11, 12.
Corresponding angles When two lines are crossed by another line (called a transversal), the angles in matching corners are called corresponding angles. When the two lines are parallel corresponding angles are equal.
Cube is a three-dimensional shape, either solid or hollow, with 6 faces which are squares.
Cuboid is a box-shaped 3D object with six flat sides or faces that are rectangles.
Cylinder is a 3D object with two identical flat ends that are circular and one curved side.
Data is a collection of facts, like numbers, words, measurements, etc.
Decade is a 10 years.
Decagon is a 10-sided polygon
Decahedron is a polyhedron with ten flat faces.
Decimal fractions are ones where the denominator (the bottom number) is a power of ten (like 10, 100, 1000, etc).
You can write decimal fractions with a decimal point (and no denominator), which can make it easier to do calculations like addition and multiplication with fractions.
Decimal point is a point or dot used to separate the whole number part from the fractional part of a number.
Degrees are a measure for angles. The symbol for degrees is °.
Denominator is the bottom number in a fraction. It shows how many equal parts the item is divided into.
Descending order means arranged from largest to smallest or in decreasing order.
Diagonal is a straight line inside a shape that goes from one non adjacent corner to another.
Dimension is a measurement of length in one direction. Examples: length, width or depth and height are dimensions.
Discount is a reduction in price, often shown as a percent.
Divided bar graphs and sector (pie) graphs are used to show how a total is divided into parts. A divided bar graph is shown as a rectangle, divided into sections. The proportion of the section indicates the part of the whole or total that each amount represents.
Division ÷ is splitting into equal parts or groups.
24 ÷ 3 = 8.
Dividend ÷ divisor = quotient
Divisible means when one number can be divided evenly by another without remainder.
Dot plot is a graph where data is displayed using dots.
Edge is the straight line where two faces of a 3D shape or object meet.
Equation is a statement that two things are equal. It has an equals sign =. For example, 6+4=10
Equivalent means having the same value or quantity. For example with equivalent fractions, 3/5 and 6/10.
Even number is any whole number that can be divided exactly by 2 (and includes zero).
Expanded form shows the value of individual digits in a number. So 345 would be 300 + 40 + 5
Expanded notation is writing a number as a sum of each digit multiplied by its matching place value. For example: 254 = 2 x 100 + 5 x 10 + 4 x 1
Exponent The exponent of a number is a power or index. It shows how many times the number should be multiplied by itself. It is written to the right and above the base number. So 42 is 4x4, 53 is 5x5x5
Face is a flat surface of a geometric solid. An edge is formed by the intersection of 2 faces. Vertices are formed by the intersection of 3 or more edges. The terms faces, vertices and edges should only be used with polyhedra such as prisms and pyramids. Spheres, cones and cylinders do not have faces, vertices and edges.
Factors are numbers you can multiply together to get another number: For example: 2 and 4 are factors of 8, because 2 × 4 = 8.
Fibonacci sequence is the sequence of numbers: 0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,... where each number is equal to the sum of the two preceding numbers.
Fractions are about division. Sometimes they are in the form of parts of a whole (1/3 of a cake), sometimes as parts of a group (1/4 of 24 items is 6 items), sometimes as a percentage (parts out of 100 or hundredths). Common fractions are written as a numerator over a denominator. A fraction can be converted to a decimal by dividing the numerator by the denominator.
Frequency is how often something happens.
Frequency distribution is a table that lists a set of scores and their frequencies.
Frequency histogram is a graph using vertical columns to show frequencies.
Gram is a metric unit of mass (weight). 1000 grams = 1 kilogram
Gross means before any deductions. So gross income means before tax and expenses. Gross weight is the mass of the container or packaging and its contents.
Gross also means twelve dozen or 144
Half is one of two equal parts of a whole. It is the same as the decimal 0.5, and 50%.
Hectare (ha) is a unit of area usually used to measure land, that is equal to 10,000 square metres. 1 ha = approximately 2.47 acres.
Height is the vertical distance from top to bottom.
Hemisphere is half of a sphere.
Heptagon is a 7-sided polygon.
Hexagon is a 6-sided polygon.
HCF or Highest Common Factor is the highest number that divides exactly into two or more numbers.
Hindu Arabic numeral system is the name given to our number system which uses the numerals 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
Histogram is a graph type where the data is grouped into ranges like 20 to 29, 30 to 39, etc), and then plotted as bars like a column graph, but with each bar representing a range of data.
Horizontal means going side-to-side, like the horizon.
Hundredth One part in a hundred equal parts. 1/100th. In decimals 0.01 is one hundredth.
Imperial system is a system of weights and measures used in the UK and some commonwealth countries, which uses feet, inches, ounces, acres etc.
Improper fraction is a fraction where the numerator (the top number) is greater than the denominator (or bottom number). In other words, it is top-heavy.
Index (indices) is the same as power or exponent.
Integer A whole number with no fractional part, including zero and negative numbers.
Interior angle is an angle inside a shape.
Intersect means to cross over or have a common point.
Inverse operation is the operation that reverses the effect of another operation. For example, addition and subtraction.
Irregular polygon is a polygon that does not have all sides and all angles equal.
Jump strategy Jumping by parts of a number to solve a calculation. For example jump by 10s then ones. Eg: 45 + 34, start at 45 on an empty number line, then jump three 10s or 30 and then 4 ones.
Kilogram (kg) A Metric measure of mass equal to 1000 grams
Kilolitre (kl) is a metric measure of volume which is equal to 1000 litres.
Kilometre (km) is a metric measure of distance which is equal to 1000 metres (and approximately 0.62 miles).
km/h is an abbreviation for kilometres per hour and is a metric measurement for speed.
Kite is a 4-sided 2D shape with straight sides that has two pairs of adjacent sides with equal length.
LCM or Lowest Common Multiple is the smallest positive number that is a multiple of two or more numbers. For example: the Lowest Common Multiple of 2 and 5 is 10, because 10 is a multiple of 2 and also a multiple of 5. Other common multiples include 20 and 30 etc.
Length is the distance from one point to another, which is usually the longest dimension of an object.
Line graph is a graph that uses points connected by lines to show how something changes in value (often with time).
Line of best fit is a line on a graph showing the general direction that a group of points is going in.
Litre (L) is a metric unit of volume, mostly used to measure liquids. It equals 1000 millilitres (ml)
Long division is a way to set out calculations when the divisor has two or more digits. It is just like short division, except that instead of writing the remainder next to the next number in the dividend (the number be divided), you write it underneath the algorithm and bring that next number down beside it.
Mass is a measure of how much matter is in an object. It is commonly measured by how much something weighs, but weight can change depending on where you are (such as on the moon) while the mass stays the same. Metric units for mass are grams, kilograms and tonnes.
Measures of central tendency are values that attempt to describe a set of data by identifying the central position within that set of data: mean, mode and median.
Mean is the average or central value of a set of numbers. To calculate mean you add up all the numbers, then divide by how many numbers there are.
Mode is the value that occurs most often.
Median is the middle value of the data set when it has been arranged in ascending order.
Metre is the basic unit of length (or distance) in the Metric System.
Metric system is the decimal measuring system.
Millilitre (mL) is a Metric unit of volume, equal to one thousandth of a litre.
Million is a thousand thousands (1,000,000).
Mixed number is a whole number and a fraction combined into one mixed number. For example, 2½ is a mixed number.
Multiple is a number that may be divided by another number with no remainder. For example, 6, 18, and 24 are multiples of 3.
Multiplication or product is repeated addition with groups of equal size. For example: 6 × 3 = 6 + 6 + 6 = 18. It can also be thought of as an array, where the two numbers being multiplied are the number of rows and columns.
Net means what is left after all deductions have been made.
Nonagon is a 9-sided polygon.
Numeral is a symbol that stands for a number.
Numerator is the top number in a fraction. It shows how many parts we have.
Oblique means slanting. Not up-down or left-right.
Oblong is a rectangle that is not a square.
Obtuse angle is one which is more than 90° but less than 180°
Octagon is an 8 sided polygon.
Odd number is any integer (not a fraction) which cannot be divided exactly by 2. Odd numbers end in 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9.
Operation is a mathematical process. The most common are add, subtract, multiply and divide (+, −, ×, ÷).
Order of operations: see BIDMAS and BODMAS.
Ordered pairs (x,y) show the position on a graph, where the horizontal (or x) value is first, and the vertical (or y) value is second.
Outlier is a value that is much smaller or larger than most of the other values in a data set.
Palindrome means it reads the same backwards and forwards. For example, 24542.
Parallel lines are straight lines that are always the same distance apart and never touching.
Parallelogram is a 4-sided 2D shape (quadrilateral) with straight sides and where opposite sides are parallel.
Pascal's triangle is a triangle made of numbers and where each number is equal to the two numbers above it added together.
Pentagon is a 5-sided polygon.
Percent (%) means parts per 100 or hundredths.
Perimeter is the distance around a two-dimensional shape.
Perpendicular means at right angles (90°) to.
Pi is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. It is approximately equal to 3.14.
Pictograph uses pictures or symbols to show the value of the data.
Place value is the value of the digit in the number. For example: In 462, the 6 is in the tens position, so it has a value of 60.
Platonic solids are tetrahedron, cube, octahedron, dodecahedron and icosahedron. Each one is a polyhedron (a solid with flat faces). Their faces are identical.
Polyhedron is a three dimensional solid in with flat polygonal faces, straight edges and corners or vertices, like cubes, prisms and pyramids.
Power, also known as exponent or index says how many times to multiply the number with itself. 32 is 3x3 or 9.
Prime number can be divided evenly only by itself and 1 and it must be a whole number greater than 1. For example, 3 can only be divided evenly by 1 or 3, so it is a prime number, while 6 can be divided evenly by 1, 2, 3 and 6 (has more factors) so it is not prime but composite.
Probability is the chance that something will happen. It can be expressed as a fraction or percent, or using words such as impossible, possible, unlikely, likely and certain.
Product is the answer when two or more numbers are multiplied together.
Pronumeral is a letter that we use to represent a number we do not know eg x or y.
Pyramid is a 3D object whose base is a polygon and sides are triangles which meet at the top or apex. Pyramids are named by the shape of their bases.
Quadrilateral is a 4 sided two dimensional shape, such as a Trapezium, Parallelogram, Rectangle, Rhombus, Square.
Quotient is the answer after you divide one number by another.
Radius is the distance from the centre to the edge of a circle and is half of the diameter.
Range in a set of data is the difference between the lowest and highest values.
Ratio is how much of one thing there is in relation to another. For example if you have 1 part cordial to 4 parts water, the ratio can be written 1:4 and means for every one part cordial there are 4 parts water.
Reciprocal of a number is 1 divided by the number. For example, the reciprocal of 2 is 1/2 (half).
Rectangle is a 4-sided 2D shape with straight sides where all interior angles are right angles. Also opposite sides are parallel and of equal length. A square is a type of rectangle, with 4 sides of equal length.
Reflex angle is one which is more than 180° but less than 360°.
Regular polygon when all angles and all sides are equal.
Remainder is the amount left over after division.
Repeating (recurring) decimal is a number that has digits that repeat forever. The part that repeats is usually shown by placing dots over the first and last digits of the repeating pattern, or sometimes a line over the pattern.
Revolution is a 360° angle, a full rotation or complete turn.
Rhombus is a 4-sided 2D shape with straight sides all with equal length. It is a type of parallelogram with opposite sides parallel and opposite angles equal.
Right angle is an angle which is equal to 90°.
Rounding means making a number simpler while keeping its value close to what it was. This makes a rounded number less accurate, but possibly easier to use. You might round 17 to the nearest ten as 20 for example.
Scatter plot is a graph of points plotted to show the relationship between two sets of data.
Scientific notation is a way to write very large or small numbers where the number is written as a number between 1 and 10 and multiplied by a power of 10. For example, 0.00024 in scientific notation is written 2.4 x 10-4.
Sector graph (often referred to as a pie chart) is a graph representing information in a circle divided into sectors corresponding to the relative proportions of the quantities. It is useful to show percentages.
Simplest form of a fraction is when the top and bottom cannot be any smaller (while still being whole numbers). For example: 3/6 can be simplified to 1/2. To simplify a fraction, divide the top and bottom by the highest number that can divide into both numbers.
Sphere is a round solid figure, where every point on its surface is equidistant from its centre.
Square is a quadrilateral, a regular polygon with all sides of equal length, and every interior angle a right angle.
Square numbers are the numbers we get after multiplying an integer by itself. For example: 3 × 3 = 9, so 9 is a square number.
Square root is the inverse of squaring a number. It is a value that, when multiplied by itself, gives you the number. For example: 3 × 3 = 9, so the square root of 9 is 3.
Straight angle is 1800.
Subtraction (difference) is taking one number away from another.
Supplementary angles are two angles that add up to 180 degrees.
Symmetry is when a shape is exactly like another if you flip, slide or turn it (transform it). Having two halves that are mirror images.
Tonne (t) is a unit of mass equal to 1000 kilograms.
Trapezium is a quadrilateral with one pair of sides parallel.
Triangle is a 3-sided polygon. The interior angles of a triangle add up to 1800.
A scalene triangle has no equal sides or angles.
An isosceles triangle has two equal sides and the angles opposite the equal sides are also equal.
An equilateral triangle has all three sides equal length and all the angles are 60°.
Transformation means changing a shape using Rotation (turn) Reflection (flip) Translation (slide) or
Dilation (resize).
Unit of measurement is a quantity used as a standard of measurement, like metres and litres.
Variable can be a symbol for a number we don't know yet. It is usually a letter like x or y. In data, a variable is a characteristic, number, or quantity that can be measured or counted.
Vertex (plural vertices) is a corner formed by the intersection of faces or edges of an object.
Vertical means in an up-down position, or upright.
Vertically opposite angles are the angles opposite each other when two lines cross.
Vinculum is the horizontal line used to separate the numerator and denominator in a fraction.
Volume is the amount of 3-dimensional space an object occupies.
Weight is the downward force caused by gravity on an object.
X axis is the line on a graph that runs horizontally (left-right) through zero.
X coordinate is the horizontal value in a pair of coordinates: how far along the point is. The X Coordinate is written first in an ordered pair of coordinates (x,y), such as (2,3).
Y axis is the line on a graph that runs vertically (up-down) through zero.
Y coordinate is the vertical value in a pair of coordinates. How far up or down the point is. The Y Coordinate is written second in an ordered pair of coordinates (x,y) such as (2,4).
Year is a period of time in which the Earth makes a complete revolution around the sun. There are 365 days in a normal year and 366 days in a leap year.
Zero has no value. It is not positive or negative. It is a place-holder when writing numerals, because for example, 403 would be 43 if you did not include the zero to hold the tens place.
